Ladder bracket



June 3, 1952 F. B. FINNEY LADDER BRACKET Filed Jan. 13, 1951 PatentedJune 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LADDER BRACKET Fay B. Finney,Platteville, Wis.

Application January 13, 1951, Serial No. 205,923

This invention relates to ladder brackets and has for its principalobject the provision of a new and improved bracket of this type.

It is a main object of the invention to provide a bracket attachable toa ladder and engageable with a vertical wall to position the top of theladder outwardly from the wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket, for supportingthe top of a ladder away from the wall, arranged so that stresses placedon the ladder by the bracket will be mainly on the rails of the ladder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket for supportingthe top of a ladder away from the wall, which is attachable to anddetachable from the ladder without the use of any tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket which is oflight weight but nevertheless is Strong enough to support loads as heavyas may be carried safely by the ladder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket that is strongand capable of withstanding hard usage without damage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bracket which canbe manufactured at low cost without sacrificing quality.

Further objects of the invention not specifically mentioned here will beapparent from the detailed description and claims which follow,reference being had to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment ofthe invention is shown by way of example and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the bracket supporting a ladderaway from a vertical wall;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the ladder and bracket; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 33of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the maintenance of building structures, it is frequently advantageousto support a ladder outwardly from the structure so as to better enablethe workmen to perform their duties. Thus, for example, when working onthe over-hanging gutters of a building, it is definitely advantageous tospace the upper end of the ladders a considerable distance outwardlyfrom the building so that a plank or stage supported by the ladder willlie outside of the gutter to permit a workman to work on the gutterconveniently. In many instances, such as in painting, tuck pointing andthe like, it is advantageous to support a boatswains chair or a reelchair somewhat outwardly from the building so that a workman may moveupwardly and downwardly along the wall during the course of his work.The present inven- 7 Claims. (Cl. 228-60) 2 tion provides a bracketsuitable for these purposes.

From the standpoint of safety, it is obviously advantageous to supportthe stresses placed on the ladder directly on the rails of the ladderrather than upon the rungs, and the bracket of the present invention isarranged to do this. Furthermore, it is arranged so that it may beattached to and detached from the ladder without the use of tools of anykind.

In its preferred form, the bracket of the present invention comprises anarched structure having a horizontal and a generally vertical sectionjoined together by an arcuate section. A cross bar is fixed at the endof the horizontal section and contains shoes or skids adapted to engagethe wall of the building. The vertical section contains cross bars fixedthereto and adapted to engage the rails of a ladder, the upper one ofthe two cross bars containing loops through which the ends of the railsare projected to hang the bracket on the ladder. A latch is provided forengagement with a rung of the ladder to draw the lower cross bar snuglyagainst the rails of the ladder, thereby to lock the bracket securely inplace on the ladder. Suitable brace members are provided to add rigidityand durability to the structure.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, it will be seen that thebracket of the present invention comprises a main member having asubstantially horizontal section I, an arcuate section 2, and asubstantially. vertical section 3. Disposed in juxtaposition to thismain member is a reinforcing arch 4 fixed to the horizontal section Iadjacent the end thereof, and to the vertical section 3 somewhatupwardly from the end thereof. Brace members 5 extend between the mainmember and arch and are fixed thereto to stiffen the assembly.

Fixed to the outer end of the section l is a cross bar 6 reinforced by aplate 1 and containing shoes 8 adapted to engage a wall surface tosupport the bracket thereagainst. Braces 9 extend from the ends of thecross bar 6 to the section I to hold the member rigid.

Section 3 of the main member contains an upper cross bar I0 and a lowercross bar l I, each of which is preferably somewhat shorter than .thecross bar 6. Brace bars I 2 extend between the section I and the ends ofcross bar H3. The main member, arch 4 and cross bars 5, l0 and II, andbraces 9 and I2 may all conveniently be formed of light weight, hightensile strength tubing and secured together by welding.

Mounted upon the cross bar I0 are clevis like loops l3 having eyesthrough which the cross bar I!) extends loosely to permit sliding theloops thereon, thereby to adjust the bracket to ladders of difierentwidths. As will be seen in Fig. 1,

the side rails [4 of the ladder are extended through the loops l3 andthe bracket lowered thereon until these loops engage the upper rung l5of the ladder thereby to hang the bracket thereon.

Lower cross bar H contains suitable post-like members I6 fixed to itsends in any convenient manner as by welding, and serving to limitlateral movement of the bracket with respect to the ladder. Mounted uponthe section 3, between the prevent the bracket from sliding off of thelad-.

der by engaging under the top rung thereof. Since the post 24 projectsoutwardly from the main member, when the bracket is being placed uponthe ladder, loops 13 are threaded over the rails and the bracket thenrotated, around bar 1'0 as a pivot, 'suffi'ciently to move section 3away from the rungs far enough to permit post 23 to clear the top rung.longitudinally of the ladder to bring loops i3 against the top rung,after which the bracket is rotated in a reverse direction to positionsection 3 against the ladder rungs.

With the bracket mounted on the ladder as above, section 3 lies alongthe rungs of the ladder, and the rails i4 thereoiregister with andbear-against the crossbar l i. Collar i'i is rotated and movedlongitudinally to register the tongue IS with a rung of the ladderthereby to draw the crossbar H tightly against the rails to secure thebracket on the ladder. Fixed to the ends of crossbar l6 and to arch 4 isa V-shaped brace 25, which may be a tube or rod, that holds the barrig-id so that the bracket and ladder may be handled as a unit.

As will be seen in Fig. 1, the upper end of the ladder is supportedoutwardly from the wall structure a distance depending upon the length*o'fsection l of the bracket. This distance may be varied within theteachings of the invention; however, spacing theladder approximatelythree feet from the wall has been found to be satisfactory in mostinstances. With a pair of ladders equipped with these brackets andspaced er-suitable distance apart, a plank 29 may be laid across thehorizontal sections 1 and supported thereby to enable a workman totravel between the ladders. In order that this plank may be movedfarther from the'building and in juxtaposition to the ladder, ahorizontal extension member 2i and supporting post 2'2 therefor, fill inthe drop causedby arch 2 of the main member and permit the plank to besupported with its outer edge substantially in engagement withtheladder. This is advantageous when the bracket is being used to form asca'irolding to support a workman working upon a gutter. In order toinsure that a scafiold so formed will be stable, it is desirable to havethe cross bar 6 of The bracket is then moved considerable length so asto space the shoes 8 apart on the wall. I have found that if the lengthof cross bar 6 is substantially the same as the distance from the wallto the ladder or to the supporting post 2|, the bracket will hold theladder firmly against lateral movement and scafi'olds formed as abovewill be very stable. With theseproportions the bracket and ladder can behandled easily.

If a stage or boatswains chair is to be used with the bracket, it may besupported conveniently by a hook 23 engaging the arch 4 at a junctionpointer the brace members 5, as shown in Fig. 1.

A suitable cable or rope depending from the hook will support the devicebelow the bracket at a convenient. distance outwardly from the wall oftheflbuilding.

When composed of light weight materials, such as alloy steel tubing, thebracket is of moderate weight and 'its' presence at the top of theladder does not seriously interfere with movements of the ladder asrequired in the course of the work. Although light, the bracket isstrong enough to support weights up to the maximum that can be carriedsafely by the ladders and rugged enough to withstand the hard usage towhich it is subjected.

While I have chosen to illustrate my invention by showing and describinga preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example as thereare many modifications and adaptations which can be made by one skilledin the art within the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described apreferred embodiment of the invention, what I consider new and desire tohave protected'by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed 'is:

l. A bracket for holding the top of a ladder outwardly from a verticalwall, comprising: a tubular member having a section adapted to layalongside the rungs of the ladder and a second section disposed at anoblique angle to the first section; a cross bar fixed on the free end ofsaid second section; shoes "fixed on the ends 0 1" said cross forengaging the wall; a pair or vertically spaced apart cross bars fixed onsaid first section for engaging the rails of the ladder; loops on theupper one of said latter cross bars for encircling the rails of theladder and engaging the top rung thereof to support the bracket on theladder; and a latch on said first section for engaging a rung of theladder to lock the bracket thereon.

2. A bracket as specified in claim 1, in which the loops are slidablymounted upon the cross bar to accommodate the bracket to' ladders ofvarious widths.

3. A bracket as specified in claim 1, in which the latch is slidablelongitudinally of said first section to accommodate the bracket toladders having different distances between rungs.

4. A bracket as'speci'fied in claim '1, in which a post projects fromthe tubular member and is positioned to extend under the rung of theladder, engaged by the loops to prevent the bracket from sliding off theladder.

5. A bracket for holding the top of a ladder outwardly from a verticalwall, comprising: a main member having a horizontal section and avertical section, which sections are joined together by a long radiusarcuate section; a cross bar'fixe'd on the free end of said horizontalsection; shoes fixed on said cross bar for engaging 5 the wall; bracemembers extending between said cross bar and horizontal section; asecond cross bar fixed on the vertical section at the junction thereofwith said arcuate section; loops disposed on said second cross bar forengaging the rails and top rung of a ladder to support the bracketthereon; brace members fixed to the free ends of said second cross barand said horizontal section; a third cross bar fixed on said verticalsection near'the free end thereof; posts on said third cross bar forpositioning the free end of said vertical section laterally with respectto the ladder; an arch fixed to said vertical section at said thirdcross bar and to said horizontal section near the first cross bar; bracemembers fixed to said arch and to the horizontal arcuate and verticalsections of said member; and a latch slidably fixed on said verticalsectionfor engaging a rung of the ladder to draw the third cross baragainst the ladder rails and thereby secure the bracket on the ladder.

6. A bracket as specified in claim 5, in which a V brace is fixed to thecross bar on which the loops are mounted and to the arch to hold thatcross bar rigid.

7. A bracket as specified in claim 5, having an extension of thehorizontal section disposed in line therewith and over the arcuatesection and supported by a post rising from the arcuate section toreceive and support a plank for forming a scafiold.

FAY B. FINNEY.

REFERENCES CITED v The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,471,848 Johnson Oct. 23, 19232,101,245 De Franco Dec. 7, 1937 2,503,351 Otterson Apr. 11, 1950FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 748,371 France Apr. 10, 1933

